"The Oak Tree" Book

One of the greatest pains of tragedy is that after a while, no one talks about it, as if it were history. In The Oak Tree, written by J. Steven Spires and illustrated by Jonathan Caron, the reader is given the opportunity to revisit the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast 10 years ago. Although this is not a light-hearted tale, The Oak Tree is a good starting point for discussions on natural disasters and the strength and resilience that comes from such events.The Oak Tree offers a fresh take on the tragedy, telling the story from the perspective of an old oak tree, the centerpiece of a family’s front yard. The wonderful illustrations by Caron, who is only 18 years old, bring the story and the tree to life. The tree has a warm, expressive face, and it’s smiling when the day begins. But soon the wind picks up and the father and son nail boards to the windows. To the tree’s dismay, the family packs up their station wagon. Just before driving away, two of